Gate latch



23,1937. D. w. RIICHARDS GATE LATCH Filed June 11, 1956 HIS ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application June 11,

9 Claims.

My invention relates to gate latches, and particularly to gate latches for the gates of stock enclosures and the like.

One object of my invention is to provide a gate latch of the type described which can be easily operated by persons, but which cannot be operated by the stock. and which when in its unlatched position cannot cause injury to stock passing through the gate.

Another object of my invention is to provide a gate latch which can be manufactured at a minimum cost.

I will describe one form of gate latch embodying my invention. and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is an isometric view showing one form of gate latch embodying my invention applied to a gate, the gate latch being illustrated in its latched position. Fig. 2 is an isometric View showing the gate latch illustrated in Fig. l in its unlatched position. Fig. 3 is a side view showing the gate latch illustrated in Fig. 1 attached to a wooden gate post. Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the latch body forming part of the gate latch shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 5 is an isometric view of the backplate of the gate latch shown in Figs.

1 and 2. Fig. 6 is an isometric view of the latch fork forming part of the gate latch illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the gate latch in the form here shown comprises a latch body I, a backplate 2, and a latch fork 5.

The latch body I, as best seen in Fig. 4, comprises spaced vertically disposed front and rear walls l and l connected together at their lower r ends by an integral bottom wall I; and an upwardly extending flange I which is connected to the front wall l by means of an integral top wall I, and which is disposed in the same vertical plane as the rear Wall l The rear wall I is made shorter than the front wall l for a purpose which will appear presently, and formed in the upper part of the front wall and in the top wall I is a centrally disposed rectangular slot I the lower end of which aligns horizontally with the upper end of the rear wall. The flange I is provided with a pair of laterally spaced holes I and the front and rear walls are provided adjacent their lower ends with laterally spaced aligned holes. I and P, respectively.

The latch body I is adapted to be secured to a c gate post adjacent the swinging side of the gate 1936, Serial No. 84,639

which it is desired to latch, and as shown in Fig. 1, it is secured by means of a pair of U-bolts 3 to a tubular gate post 4 adjacent the swinging side of a gate 6, shown in dot and dash lines in the drawing. The threaded outer ends of the upper U-bolt 3 extend with clearance through the holes I in the flange i and carry nuts 1, while the threaded outer ends of the lower U- bolt 3 extend with clearance through the aligned holes l and l in the rear and front walls l and I and carry nuts 8.

The backplate 2 is disposed between the gate post 4 and the rear side of the latch body, and is provided with four holes 2*, as shown in Fig. 5, the lower two of which align with the two holes I in the rear wall I of the latch body, and the upper two of which align with the two holes I in the upwardly extending flange l of the latch body. The U-bolts 3 pass through the holes in the backplate, and it will be apparent, therefore, that the backplate is securely clamped between the gate post 4 and the latch body.

The latch fork 5 (see Fig. 6) comprises two prongs 5 connected by an integral connecting portion 5 which is slightly longer than the width of the latch body. The connecting portion 5 is disposed in the opening l0 formed between the four walls of the latch body, and is provided adjacent the center thereof with an integral U-shaped projection 5 having a shoulder 5 formed on each side thereof. The U- shaped projection 5 is located in a plane which extends at right angles to the plane of the prongs 5 and the parts are so proportioned that when the fork is held in a position in which the prongs 5 are horizontal, the fork can be freely moved vertically between a latching position in which the connecting portion rests on the upper sides of the arms of the lower U-bolt 3, and an upper position in which the projection 5 pro-- jects through the slot I The parts are further so proportioned that when the latch fork occupies its latching position, the projection 5 will cooperate with the front and back walls of the latch body to prevent rotation of the latch fork away from the position in which the prongs are horizontal, but that, when the latch fork is moved upwardly to the position in which the projection 5 extends into the slot I the latch fork is then free to rotate downwardly about the5 axis of the connecting portion through an angle of to an unlatching position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. The parts are still further so proportioned that when the latch fork occupies it llnlatnhing position, the connecting portioni t will rest on the top of the rear wall l and the U-shaped portion 5 will rest on the bottom wall of the slot I, while the shoulders 5 will cooperate with the rear face of the forward wall I on opposite sides of the slot I to prevent movement of the connecting portion forwardly in the opening l0 far enough to permit the connecting portion to move out of engagement with the top of the rear wall l With the gate latch constructed in the manner described, it will be apparent that when the latch fork occupies its latching position the swinging side of the gate will be retained between the fork prongs in the manner shown in Fig. 1,

I but that, when the latch fork occupies its unlatching position the gate will then be free to swing past the latch. It should be particularly pointed out that when thegate is disposed between the prongs of the latch fork in the manner shown in Fig. 1, it cannot be unlatched by the stock rubbing against the latch fork, since any force which it is possible for the stock to exert on the latch fork will tend to rotate the latch fork rather than lift it, and due to the construction of the latch fork and latch body it is impossible to rotate the latch fork when it occupies its latching position. The gate can, however, be easily unlatched by persons by moving the latch fork vertically to its upper position, and then rotating it to its unlatched position. It should further particularly be pointed out that when the latch fork occupies its unlatching position the fork prongs then occupy vertical positions in which they cannot inflict injury upon passing stock.

In assembling the latch shown in Fig. l, the latch fork is first slipped into place in the latch body through the opening which is formed between the top of the rear wall I and the lower end of the flange I and the latch body and backplate are then secured to the gate post 4 by means of the U-bolts 3. When it is desired to secure the gate latch to a gate post having a flat surface on the side next to the latch, the

" backplate 2 may be dispensed with, and lag screws or bolts 9 may be employed in place of the U-bolts 3, in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of gate latch embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A gate latch comprising a latch body, and a latch fork mounted in said body for vertical sliding movement between two positions, said fork being provided with means which cooperates with said body to prevent rotation of the latch fork relative to the body when the fork occupies its lower position but not when the fork occupies its upper position.

2. A gate latch comprising a latch body, and a latch fork mounted in said body for vertical sliding movement between two positions, said fork being provided with a projection which cooperates with said body to prevent rotation of the latch fork relative to the body when the fork occupies its lower position and said body being provided with a slot which receives said projection to permit rotation of the fork relative to the body when the fork occupies its upper position.

3. A gate latch comprising a latch body, and a latch fork mounted in said body for vertical sliding movement between two positions, said fork being provided with a projection which when the latch fork occupies its lower position cooperates with the latch body to hold the latch fork in one angular position relative to the latch body but which when the latch fork occupies its upper position extends into a slot provided in the latch body in a manner to permit the latch fork to rotate to another angular position relative to the latch body.

4. A gate latch comprising a latch body adapted to be secured to a gate post, and a latch fork comprising a pair of prongs connected by an integral connecting portion which is slidably mounted in an opening formed in the latch body in such manner that the latch fork is free to slide vertically between a lower or latching position and an upper position, the connecting portion of said fork being provided with a projection which is disposed at right angles to the prongs and which cooperates with the latch body when the fork occupies its latching position to retain the latch prongs in a horizontal position, and said latch body being provided with a slot which receives the projection of the latch fork when the fork occupies its upper position in a manner to permit the fork to rotate about the axis of the connecting portion to an unlatching position in which the prongs are vertical.

5. A gate latch comprising a latch body adapted to be secured to a gate post, said latch body comprising spaced vertically disposed front and rear walls connected at their lower ends by a bottom wall and a vertically extending flange connected to the front wall by a top wall which ex- 1 tends parallel to the bottom wall, said flange being disposed in the same plane as said rear wall and said rear wall being shorter in length than said front wall and said top and front walls being provided with a slot the lower end of which lies in the same vertical plane as said rear wall, and a latch fork comprising a pair of prongs connected by a connecting portion which is slidably mounted in the opening formed between the walls of said latch body in such manner that said latch fork is free to slide vertically within said opening between a lower or latching position and an upper position, the connecting portion of said fork being provided with a projection which extends at right angles to the prongs and which 00- operates with the front and rear walls of said latch body when the fork occupies its latching position to retain the latch fork in an angular position relative to said latch body in which the fork prongs are horizontal but which cooperates with said slot when the latch fork is moved to its upper position in a manner to permit the fork to rotate about the axis of the connecting portion to an unlatching position in which the fork prongs are vertical.

6. A gate latch comprising a latch body adapted to be secured to a gate post, said body comprising spaced vertically disposed front and rear walls connected at their lower ends by a bottom wall and a vertically extending flange connected to the front wall by a top wall which extends parallel to the bottom wall, said flange being disposed in the same plane as said rear wall and said rear wall being shorter in length than said front wall and said top and front walls being provided with a slot the lower end of which lies in the same vertical plane as said rear wall, and a fork comprising a pair of prongs connected by a connecting portion which is slidably mounted in the opening formed between the walls of said latch body in such manner that said latch fork is free to slide vertically within said opening between a lower or latching position and an upper position, the connecting portion of said fork being provided with a U-shaped projection which extends at right angles to the prongs and which has a shoulder formed at each side thereof and which cooperates with the front and rear walls of said latch body when the fork occupies its latching position to retain the latch fork in an angular position relative to said latch body in which the fork prongs are horizontal but which cooperates With said slot when the latch fork is moved to its upper position in a manner to permit the fork to rotate about the axis of the connecting portion to an unlatching position in which the fork prongs are vertical, the parts being so proportioned that when said latch fork occupies its unlatching position the connecting portion will rest on the upper end of the rear wall of said latch body and the U-shaped projection will rest on the bottom of said slot and said shoulder will cooperate with the forward wall of said latch body to hold the fork in a position in which the connecting portion is prevented from moving forwardly off of the top of the rear wall of said latch body.

7. A gate latch comprising a latch body adapted to be secured to a gate post, said body comprising spaced vertically disposed front and rear walls connected at their lower ends by a bottom wall and a vertically extending flange connected to the front wall by a top Wall which extends parallel to the bottom wall, said flange being disposed in the same plane as said rear wall and said rear wall being shorter in length than said front wall and said top and front walls being provided with a slot the lower end of which lies in the same vertical plane as said rear wall, a latch fork comprising a pair of prongs connected by a connecting portion which is slidably mounted in the opening formed between the walls of said latch body in such manner that said latch fork is free to slide vertically within said opening between a lower or latching position and an upper position, the connecting portion of said fork being provided with a projection which extends at right angles to the prongs and which cooperates with the front and rear walls of said latch body when the fork occupies its latching position to retain the latch fork in an angular position relative to said latch body in which the fork prongs are horizontal but which cooperates with said slot when the latch fork is moved to its upper position in a manner to permit the fork to rotate about the axis of the connecting portion to an unlatching position in which the fork prongs are vertical, and a backplate secured to the rear side of said latch body.

8. A gate latch comprising a latch body and a latch fork mounted in said body for vertical sliding movement between two positions and provided with means which cooperates with the latch body in such manner that the fork prongs are retained in a horizontal plane when the fork is moved to its one vertical position but are permitted to rotate to a vertical plane when the fork is moved to its other vertical position.

9. A gate latch comprising a latch body and a latch fork mounted in said body for vertical sliding movement between two positions and prowded with means which cooperates with the latch body in such manner that the fork prongs are retained in a horizontal plane when the fork is moved to its one vertical position but are permitted to rotate away from a horizontal plane when the fork is moved to its other vertical position.

DANIEL W. RICHARDS. 

